PepsiCo has announced a £13 million investment in its Doritos manufacturing site at Coventry, Europe’s largest tortilla chip factory, to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the brand.
Coventry has been the home of Doritos since the brand launched in the UK in 1994. In the 30 years since, Doritos has established itself as a highly-popular snack brand with nearly a third of UK households contributing to sales of £273 million. Its popularity continues to grow with retail sales increasing more than 20 percent over the last two years.
The new manufacturing line will continue to make the Doritos range in the UK, including Doritos Dippers which last year became the first Doritos product to classify as non-HFSS. Work to install the line will start in August with upgrades at every stage of the production process, from corn washing and milling, to cutting, cooking and seasoning. The upgrade will also help PepsiCo improve efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of its manufacturing operations, reducing greenhouse gas emissions at Coventry by over 700 tonnes each year.
Away from the factory floor, the investment has funded an extensive upgrade to staff facilities on site, with work recently completed on renovated working spaces, new changing rooms, a brand-new training centre and fully refurbished on-site restaurant.
The new training centre will increase upskilling opportunities at the site thanks to replica equipment offering team members the opportunity to develop skills off the factory floor.
Layla Whiting, Manufacturing Director, PepsiCo, added: “We’ve been perfecting the tortilla chip here in Coventry for the past three decades, and I’m proud of our role in helping to build a loyal Doritos fanbase and make the brand a household name in the UK.”
“She added: “This investment marks our commitment to the teams who have played such a key role in Doritos’ success over the years, and to our home in Coventry as we celebrate our 30th birthday.”
PepsiCo’s Coventry site is also where iconic British snacks including Wotsits, French Fries, Squares and Sunbites are made.
